Aaron Lennon has had a rather stop – start England career and will now be hoping this is a thing of the past. Having made it back into the squad for this week’s World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Poland, he will hope for a successful few years in an England shirt.
The thing people forget about Lennon is that he was drafted into international football with a great deal of expectation at a very young age. He came straight into the 2006 World Cup as an uncapped 19-year-old and perhaps this hasn’t done him too many favours.
Now though, at 25 – some people would probably guess that he was a lot older – he can excel for club and country.
So far this season, he has been excellent in a Spurs shirt, clearly enjoying life under Andre Villas-Boas. He goes into these England game in superb form too, so hopefully he will get a chance to impress.
Against San Marino, England are the overwhelming football betting favourites, so hopefully Roy Hodgson will give those who haven’t been involved lately a chance to make an impact.
Speaking of Villas-Boas, he is clearly a massive Lennon fan. He described the former Leeds man and Gareth Bale as two of the ‘best players in the world’, something which will surely give them both plenty of confidence.
It is all very well someone saying this though. Lennon needs to shine on the biggest stage and target the 2014 World Cup as the peak of his career. Otherwise, it could be an England talent that – in many ways – has gone to waste.
Make no mistake about it, Lennon has the burst of pace that could cause any defender in the world a massive headache. The problem comes with his final ball – can he create something from the opportunities he creates often enough?
Let’s hope his form, Villas-Boas’ comments and the boost from the England call-up
